Truss



April 29, 1952 E. MANTEL 2,595,154

TRUSS Filed June 22, 1950 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1 Edward Man/el INVENToR. Y

E. MANTEL TRUSS pril 29, 1952 2 SHEETS- SHET 2 Filed June 22, 1950 Fig.a

Eduard Mantel INVENTOR.

BY @Mw Patented Apr. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRUSS EdwardMantel, Harvel, Ill.

Application June 22, 1950, Serial No. 169,562

Claims. (Cl. 128-117) This invention relates to trusses for the care ofhernias, and has particular reference to an improved truss pad and novelmeans for attaching the pad to a truss belt.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable and efficienttruss pad of th'e type adapted for use in cases where the intestinalprotrusion through a rupture of the muscles of the abdominal wall is ofa relatively small area.

More specically, an object of the invention is to provide a novel trusspad of the type having a regional face adapted to apply differentpressures to local areas, respectively, of the abdomen, or to theimmediate area of the rupture and tc the adjacent surrounding area,whereby to return the protruding intestine to its normal portion and tosupport the abdominal muscles around the rupture in order to resistrecurrence of the protrusion. In such cases, a rm holding pressure isapplied directly over the area of the rupture, and a much lighterpressure is applied to the surrounding area to minimize tension on theskin and the attending discomfort.

Another object is to provide novel means for attaching the pad to atruss belt and for adjusting the pad relative thereto so as to vary thepressures applied to the abdomen.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment of theinvention:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing the present padattached to an end of a spring truss belt in accordance with the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, withthe pad partly broken away;

Figures 3 and 4 are sections taken respectively on the lines 3 3 and 4 4of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the pad;

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Figure 7 is an enlarged section taken cn the line 'I-'I of Figure 6;and,

Figures 8 and 9 are elevational views of the local pressure applicatorand main body member of the pad, respectively.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the present pad comprises a mainbody member 5, and a local pressure applicator 6, molded of spongerubber or similar highly resilient material. The member 5 is ofsubstantially hemispherical form, is provided With a iiat base surfacel, and is formed in its crown or top portion with a central recess 8 ofslightly greater than hemispherical shape. The applicator 6 is ofsubstantially spherical form and has slightly more than one about thetop of recess 8 to expand until the equator of member 6 passes into saidrecess, whereupon said portion of member 5 contracts against theapplicator 6 outwardly of its equator to aid in `holding the applicatorin said recess. The shapeof the protruding portion of applicator E issuch'as to apply a firm holding pressure over the area of the rupture,and to apply a lighter pressure to the adjacent surrounding area,supplemented by theadjacent crown surface portion of the member 5. .Y

In Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the pad is shown as secured to a carrier 9,detachably and adjustably connected to one end of a plate I0, which issecured at its other end to an end of a spring truss belt II. Thecarrier 9 comprises a flat plate I2 disposed against the base surface 'Iof the pad member 5 and having angular marginal prongs I3 driven intothe base portion of said pad member 5 to secure the pad to the carrier.Screws or bolts I4 are passed through openings of the belt plate I0 andcarrier plate I2 and screwed into base sockets I5 of the pad member 5 tosecure the carrier to the belt plate and aid in securing the pad to thecarrier. The screws or bolts I4 may be such as to cut their own threadsin the walls of the sockets I5. By 1oosening the screws or bolts I4, oneor more shim plates I6 may be interposed between the belt plate II) andthe carrier plate I2 to adjust the distance at which the pad protrudeslaterally fromrthe belt plate and thereby vary the pressure applied tothe abdomen by said pad. Each shim plate is provided with a diametricslot Il to provide clearance for the screws or bolts I4 so that the shimplates may be inserted or removed by loosening or without completelyremoving said screws or bolts. A spacer plate I 8 may be placed betweenthe carrier plate I2 and the adjacent shim plate I6, said spacer platehaving elongated slots I9 to receive the screws or bolts I4 and permitready centering of said spacer plate. A soft ilexible washer 20 may beused between the belt plate I0 and the adjacent shim plate.

From the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of theinvention will be apparent. Minor changes may be made in the details ofconstruction without departing from the spirit of the invention asclaimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a truss, a pad comprising a main body member and a local pressureapplicator composed of inherently resilient material, said body memberbeing of substantially herispherical solid form with a widest portionforming a at base surface and, said member having a central concaverecess of slightly greater than hemispherical shape in the crown portionthereof, said pressure applicator being of substantially spherical formand having slightly more than one half thereof snugly fitted and seatedinsaid recess of the body member, the remaining, minor portion of saidpressure applicator protruding from said recess beyond the crown surfaceof the body member, the portion of the body member at the top of saidrecess grippingr the pressure applicator outwardly of its equator to aidin holding said applicator in the recess, said crown portion having apressure applying surface suppleinenting the minor portion of saidpressure applicator in applying pressure.

2. In a truss, a resilient pad having a fiat base surface, a carrierembodying a flat plate disposed against said base surface of the pad andhaving angular marginal spurs grouped around and driven into the sidesof said pad adjacent said base surface.

3. In a truss, a resilient pad having a flat base surface, a carrierembodying a flat plate disposed against said base surface of the pad andhaving angular marginal spurs grouped around and driven into the sidesof said pad adjacent said base surface, an end belt plate, and screwspassing through said belt and carrier plates and screwed directly intothe pad to secure the parts together.

4.. Ina truss, a resilient pad having a flat base surface, a carrierembodying a flat plate disposed against said base surface of the pad andhaving angular marginal spurs driven into the sides of said pad adjacentsaid base surface, an end belt plate, screws passing through said beltplate and carrier plate and screwed into the pad to secure the partstogether, and a removable shim plate interposed between the belt andcarrier plates and slotted to clear the screws to permit insertion andremoval of said shim plate upon merely loosening the screws.

5. In a truss, a flat carrier plate, a pad secured to said carrierplate, a belt plate, and means to connect the carrier plate to the beltplate and to adjust the pad and the carrier plate laterally relative tosaid belt plate so as to adjust the distance at which the pad protrudesfrom said belt plate and thereby vary the pressure applied to theabdomen by said pad, said means comprising screws passing through saidcarrier and belt plates, and a plurality of plates removably clampedbetween said carrier and belt plates by said screws and including aresilient washer plate, a spacer plate and a shim plate between saidwasher plate and spacer plates, said shim plate having a slot open atone end and having the screws passing therethrough to permit removal ofsaid shim plate upon merely loosening said screws.

EDWARD MANTEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date l41,362 Bridges Jan. 26, 1864182,972 Turner Oct. 3, 1876 205,896 Parker July 9, 1878 265,235 BartlettOct. 5, 1882 504,158 Fredin Aug. 29, 1893 758,440 Hallowell Apr. 26,1904 828,022 Donnelly Aug. '7, 1906 1,106,314 OBrien Aug. 14, 19141,907,300 Lowe May 2, 1933 1,915,623 Seeley June 27, 1933

